Introduction

These make a surprisingly filling meal. Once you get the hang of rolling them, they're a pretty quick one too. Note, the recipe is for one roll, but once you've got the stuff out, you may as well make extra for lunch.
These make a surprisingly filling meal. Once you get the hang of rolling them, they're a pretty quick one too. Note, the recipe is for one roll, but once you've got the stuff out, you may as well make extra for lunch.

Directions

Put a pot of water on to boil for vermicelli. While water is heating, marinade tofu. We use a combination of sweetened lime juice, soy sauce, salt, possibly honey, and some garlic and chili pepper. For children, more honey and none of the spicy stuff.

Put asparagus in a steamer basket and place over the heating water. Peel a carrot into thin strips. Cut cucumber into matchstick-sized pieces about 3 inches long. When water is boiling, cook the rice noodles (should take about 10 minutes). Remove asparagus, drain noodles.

Fill a bowl with hot tap water. Take a spring roll wrapper and dip in water for one or two seconds, until pliable and translucent, being careful not to tear it.

Lay down on a plate and make a small pile of noodles, tofu, asparagus, carrot and cucumber in the center of the wrapper, about two-thirds of the way to the bottom. Try to square off the sides as much as possible.

Fold sides of wrapper around pile, place basil and cilantro leaves around on upper third of wrapper, being careful to avoid edges. (The leaves go on the top so that they look pretty showing through the outer layers of the spring roll.)

Fold bottom of wrapper over pile and roll into snug roll, taking care not to rip the wrapper. (This takes finesse, but you can always wrap a second wrapper around the first if you break it. Using fewer noodles may help as well.) Dip a sharp knife in hot water and slice at an angle.

NOTE: If you're making a bunch of these for a family, your plate may get sticky from the wrapper, causing your spring rolls to tear. The solution is to sprinkle a little bit of water on the plate every 3 to 5 rolls.